Project description: With the recent rapid growth of biometric systems‘ sizes and popularity, technologies supporting efficient and accurate processing of large amounts of biometric data are sought for. The goal of this 2-year project is development of efficient algorithms and datastructures for biometric identification, which can perform search queries on large biometric datasets in real-time, while simultaneously facilitating biometric data protection. The project will focus on systems based on biometric characteristics from hands and faces. The application of the developed schemes will be twofold — a robust and quick search for use both in the identification scenario with cooperative subjects, as well as forensic investigations. Furthermore, by virtue of development of privacy enhancing concepts, the societal acceptance of biometric technologies is expected to be strengthened.